Computer-Readable Storage Medium and Printing System

ABSTRACT

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that are executable by a computer in an information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus has a display interface, an operation interface, and a communication interface, and is connected with a printer through the communication interface. The computer readable instructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to control the display interface to display a setting screen to accept entry of print settings applicable to the printer, including a first special setting which is feasible to a first channel but infeasible to a second channel, and in response to a specific operation related to the first special setting to the setting screen through the operation interface, determine the first channel to be a processing channel to be used to cause the printer to print the image.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2017-190227, filed on Sep. 29, 2017, the entire subject matter of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

An aspect of the present disclosure is related to a computer-readablestorage medium storing a program to be installed in an informationprocessing apparatus, which is capable of communicating with a printer,and a printing system. Specifically, the present disclosure is relatedto a user interface, through which print settings may be made, for theinformation processing apparatus.

Related Art

An information processing apparatus capable of communicating withanother device, such as a printer; may process data according to varioustypes of settings and may accept the settings for processing the datathrough a user interface provided by an application program or a printerdriver. The information processing apparatus may be connectable with aplurality of printers, and the information processing apparatus may becommanded to switch the printers to print an image from one to another.When, for example, the two printers are drivable by a same printerdriver, information concerning print settings saved by the printerdriver in the former printer may be transferred to the printer driver inthe latter printer.

SUMMARY

In recent years, information processing apparatuses having a so-calleddriverless printing function, such as AirPrint (registered trademark),which enables image printing in conformity with a predetermined printingstandard without using a printer driver, have been introduced. Theinformation processing apparatus may transfer image data for an image tobe printed to a printer in conformity with a predetermined printingstandard using a basic print controlling function provided by OperatingSystem (OS). The printer receiving the image data may print an imagebased on the image data according to a program installed in the printerin conformity with a predetermined printing standard.

The basic print controlling function usable as above may provide feweror less complicated print setting options to a user, and a level ofprinting quality available from the basic print controlling function maynot be satisfactory to the user. In order to overcome the insufficiency,more advanced or detailed print setting options may be achieved througha specialized print controlling function applicable to a specificprinter, which may be obtained separately from the OS and applied to theprinter. The information processing apparatus equipped with thespecialized print controlling function may process the image data forthe image to be printed by a program specifically designed for theprinter. Meanwhile, the printer may print an image based on the imagedata processed by the specifically designed program. The informationprocessing apparatus equipped with the different print controllingprograms may have a plurality of processing channels to process theimage data between the information processing apparatus and the printer,even when the information processing apparatus and the printer areconnected with each other through a single communication interface.

While the plurality of processing channels to process the image data maybe available to the information processing apparatus, print settingitems applicable to image processing may vary depending on theprocessing channel to be used. Therefore, a plurality of styles of userinterfaces, through which the print settings may be made, may beprepared for the plurality of processing channels, and the userinterfaces may be switched from one to the other depending on theprocessing channel to be used for the image processing. Meanwhile, someusers may not necessarily require advanced print settings or may notplace emphasis on the processing channel to be used. In such a case, theusers may be confused if the user interfaces are different depending onthe processing channel to be used.

The present disclosure is advantageous in that a printing system, havinga printer and an information processing apparatus connected with eachother through a plurality of processing channels there-between, in whichprint settings may be less confusing to a user, is provided.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructionsthat are executable by a computer in an information processingapparatus, having a display interface, an operation interface, and acommunication interface through which the information processingapparatus is connected with a printer, is provided. The informationprocessing apparatus has a first channel and a second channel eachconfigured to cause the printer to print an image through thecommunication interface based on image data. The computer readableinstructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer tocontrol the display interface to display a setting screen, the settingscreen being configured to accept entry of print settings applicable tothe printer, the print settings including a first special setting, thefirst special setting being feasible to the first channel but infeasibleto the second channel; and in response to a specific operation to thesetting screen through the operation interface, the specific operationbeing an operation related to the first special setting, determine thefirst channel to be a processing channel to be used to cause the printerto print the image.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a printing systemhaving an information processing apparatus and a printer, which areconfigured to communicate with each other in conformity with apredetermined communication protocol, is provided. The printing systemhas channels configured to cause the printer to print an image based onimage data. The channels include a first channel configured to cause theinformation processing apparatus to conduct a first rasterizationprocess to generate first rasterized data, and cause the printer toreceive the first rasterized data and print an image based on the firstrasterized data; and a second channel configured to cause the printer toconduct a second rasterization process to generate second rasterizeddata and print the image based on the second rasterized data. Theinformation processing apparatus is configured to display a settingscreen, the setting screen being configured to accept entry of printsettings applicable to the printer, the print settings including a firstspecial setting, the first special setting being feasible to the firstchannel but infeasible to the second channel; and in response to aspecific operation to the setting screen, the specific operation beingan operation related to the first special setting, determine the firstchannel to be a processing channel to be used to cause the printer toprint the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram to illustrate a printing system according to afirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram to illustrate printing programs in aninformation processing apparatus in the printing system according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram to illustrate processing channels for theinformation processing apparatus in the printing system according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view of an editor screen to be displayed inthe information processing apparatus according to the first embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a print setting screen to be displayedin the information processing apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart to illustrate flows of steps in an edit-printsetting process in the information processing apparatus according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart to illustrate flows of steps in a settingalteration process in the information processing apparatus according tothe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of a first channel setting screen to bedisplayed in the information processing apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative view of a second channel setting screen to bedisplayed in the information processing apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative view of a print setting screen to bedisplayed in the information processing apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative view of a first channel setting screen to bedisplayed in the information processing apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative view of a second channel setting screen to bedisplayed in the information processing apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describedbelow will be a printing system 100 according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

The printing system 100 according to a first embodiment includes, asshown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 1 and an information processingapparatus 2 that may communicate with each other. The printing apparatus1 may print an image on a printable medium and may include, for example,a label printer, a page printer, a copier, and a multifunctionperipheral device. The information processing apparatus 2 may generateand edit image data for the image to be printed in the printingapparatus 1, and transmit a print execution command and the image datato the printing apparatus 1. The information processing apparatus 2 mayinclude, for example, a smartphone, a personal computer, and a tabletcomputer. The printing apparatus 1 and the information processingapparatus 2 in the printing system 100 may not necessarily be limited toa single printing apparatus 1 and a single information processingapparatus 2, respectively, but may include a plurality of printingapparatuses 1 and a plurality of information processing apparatuses 2,respectively.

The printing apparatus 1 includes, as shown in FIG. 1, a controller 11,an image printer 12, an operation panel 13, and a network interface 14.The controller 11 includes a CPU and a memory and may control devicesand parts in the printing apparatus 1. The controller 11 drawn as asingle piece of hardware controller in FIG. 1 may not necessarily belimited to a single piece of hardware controller but may include aplurality of hardware devices that may collectively control the printingapparatus 1.

The image printer 12 may print an image on a printable medium in animage forming technic, which may be, for example, anelectro-photographic technic or an inkjet printing technic. Theoperation panel 13 may include, for example, a touch panel, which mayaccept a user's input and display information. The printing apparatus 1may be capable of printing either colored images or monochrome images.The operation panel 13 may include indicator lamps and buttons. Thenetwork interface 14 may include a hardware device to establishcommunication with the information processing apparatus 2.

The information processing apparatus 2 includes, as shown in FIG. 1, aCPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a non-volatile memory 24, anoperation/display interface 26, and a network interface 27. The ROM 22may store programs including an activation program to activate theinformation processing apparatus 2. The RAM 23 may be used as a workarea for processing data and as a temporary memory area to store datatemporarily. The non-volatile memory 24 may be, for example, an HDD anda flash memory, and store programs and data therein. Theoperation/display interface 26 may be a combined unit including anoperation interface and a display interface.

The CPU 21 may process information according to programs read from theROM 22 and the non-volatile memory 24. The operation/display interface26 may include, for example, a touch panel, which may accept a user'sinput and display information. The operation/display interface 26 mayinclude, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and a display. The networkinterface 27 is a hardware device to establish communication with theprinting apparatus 1.

In the printing system 100, the information processing apparatus 2 andthe printing apparatus 1 may communicate with each other wirelessly inconformity with Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard through a commonaccess point 3. In this regard, the network interfaces 14, 27 areinterfaces that enable wireless communication in conformity with theWi-Fi standard, more specifically, with IEEE 802.11 standard or otherstandards in compliance with IEEE 802.11. However, the technology toestablish wireless communication between the information processingapparatus 2 and the printing apparatus 1 may not necessarily be limitedto the Wi-Fi standard. For example, the information processing apparatus2 and the printing apparatus 1 may wirelessly communicate with eachother through direct connection without communicating through the accesspoint 3.

The non-volatile memory 24 in the information processing apparatus 2stores, as shown in FIG. 2, an image-editor application 41 being anapplication program for editing images, an image data creating program42, a specialized print-controlling program 43, an operating system (OS)44. The OS 44 for the information processing apparatus 2 includes abasic print-controlling program 45 and a communication program 46. Inthe following paragraphs, an application program may be referred to asan application. In FIG. 2, directions of data flows from one program toanother program are indicated by solid arrows.

The image-editor application 41 is a program having functions to, forexample, accept commands from a user, display an image, and edit andsave the image. The image editor application 41 further has functions toread a generated label image file, accept a print command, and acceptsetting options for printing an image.

The image-editor application 41 further has a function to obtain statusinformation from the printing apparatus 1 through the specializedprint-controlling program 43 or the basic print-controlling program 45,as indicated by dash-and-dot lines in FIG. 2. The status information mayinclude, for example, a print completion report and an error report.

The image data generating program 42 is a program having a function tocreate an image file for an image to be printed. The image datagenerating program 42 in the information processing apparatus 2 may, forexample, create the label image file according to a command enteredthrough the image-editor application 41. The label image file may be adata file to print an image on a label medium, which may be a strip oftape.

The specialized print-controlling program 43 is a program havingfunctions to, for example, generate rasterized data, by rasterizingimage data contained in the label image file, and control thecommunication program 46 to transmit the generated rasterized data tothe printing apparatus 1. The specialized print-controlling program 43may be designed to specifically control a printing apparatus in aspecific model. Therefore, the specialized print-controlling program 43may not control a printing apparatus in a different model from adifferent manufacturer. The specialized print-controlling program 43 isa specialized program to control the printing apparatus 1 and may copewith more advanced or detailed print settings, which applicable to imageprocessing for printing the image in the printing apparatus 1. Thespecialized print-controlling program 43 may generate rasterized data ina format, which is feasible to the printing apparatus 1.

The basic print-controlling program 45 is a program having functions togenerate standardized data for printing in conformity with apredetermined printing standard and control the communication program 46to transmit the generated standardized data to the printing apparatus 1.The basic print-controlling program 45 is a basic program provided bythe OS 44. The standardized data transmitted by the basicprint-controlling program 45 may be data in conformity with a generalrasterization standard, which is feasible to the printing apparatus 1,and is not rasterized.

The basic print-controlling program 45 is a general program designed torun on a variety of printing apparatuses that support a predeterminedprinting standard. In other words, as long as the printing apparatus hasa functionality to cope with the basic print-controlling program 45, theprinting apparatus may print an image by the standardized dataregardless of a model or a manufacturer of the printing apparatus.Meanwhile, due to the versatility of the basic print-controlling program45 to cope with the variety of printing apparatuses, print settingoptions applicable through the basic print-controlling program 45 may belimited to basic settings. Therefore, the basic print-controllingprogram 45 may not always accept the print setting options that arefeasible to the printing apparatus 1. Printing systems utilizing thebasic print-controlling program 45 may include, for example, AirPrint(registered trademark) and Mopria (registered trademark).

The communication program 46 is a program having a function to controlthe network interface 27 to communicate with another communicationdevice. For example, the specialized print-controlling program 43 maytransfer the generated rasterized data to the OS 44. The OS 44 of theinformation processing apparatus 2 may transmit the rasterized datathrough the communication program 46 to the printing apparatus 1 via thenetwork interface 27. The communication program 46 is another one ofbasic programs provided by the OS 44. A part of the communicationprogram 46 may be stored in the ROM 22.

The printing system 100 may have, as indicated in FIG. 3, two (2)channels to process data for commanding the printing apparatus 1 toprint an image. The channels include a first channel, in which theinformation processing apparatus 2 may rasterize the image data, and asecond channel, in which the printing apparatus 1 may rasterize theimage data.

In order to control the printing apparatus 1 to print the image throughthe first channel, the information processing apparatus 2 may, as shownin FIG. 3, rasterize the image data contained in the label image file ina rasterization process and transmit the rasterized data to the printingapparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 may receive the rasterized dataand print the image based on the rasterized data having been received.Through the first channel, the information processing apparatus 2rasterizes the image data for the image to be printed by the specializedprint-controlling program 43 shown in FIG. 2.

The specialized print-controlling program 43 may be a program designedto process the data specifically through the first channel. Thespecialized print-controlling program 43 is not provided by the OS 44.In order to print the image through the first channel, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 may not use print-controlling functions (e.g.,the basic print-controlling program 45) contained in the OS 44 but mayuse the specialized print-controlling program 43. The first channel,which uses the specialized print-controlling program 43, may betherefore feasible to all of the print settings that are applicable tothe printing apparatus 1.

In order to control the printing apparatus 1 to print the image throughthe second channel, the information processing apparatus 2 may, as shownin FIG. 3, standardize the image data contained in the label image filein a standardization process and transmit the standardized data to theprinting apparatus 1. The printing apparatus 1 may receive thestandardized data, rasterize the standardized data in a generalrasterization process, and print an image based on the rasterized datahaving been rasterized. Through the second channel, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 standardizes the image data of the image to beprinted by the basic print-controlling program 45 shown in FIG. 2.

Through the second channel, the data is processed by the basicprint-controlling program 45, which is a print-controlling functionincluded in the OS 44. In this regard, the second channel may not befeasible to all of the functions provided by some printing apparatuses.The basic print-controlling program 45 may only accept common printsettings that are feasible to general printing apparatuses as validprint settings. For example, the basic print controlling program 45 maynot be adapted to handle image data in a high resolution, which may onlybe adaptable to a specific model of printing apparatuses.

The first channel and the second channel differ in the subjects toprocess the image data of the image to be printed. Namely, through thefirst channel, it is the information processing apparatus 2 thatrasterizes the image data. On the other hand, through the secondchannel, it is the printing apparatus 1 that rasterizes the image data.In other words, the first channel is a channel, in which the informationprocessing apparatus 2 rasterizes the image data, and the second channelis a channel, in which the printing apparatus 1 rasterizes the imagedata. Further, the first channel and the second channel may differ inalgorisms to rasterize the image data and in outcomes of therasterization. In other words, in the first channel, more advanced ordetailed print settings may be applicable to the rasterization, while inthe second channel some of the print settings may be limited in therasterization. Furthermore, the first channel and the second channel maydiffer in types and formats of the data to be transmitted from theinformation processing apparatus 2 to the printing apparatus 1.Therefore, while images may be printed based on a same label image file,an image as a printed outcome through the first channel and an image asa printed outcome through the second channel may not be the same but mayappear differently.

While some printing apparatuses may handle both data processed throughthe first channel and data processed through the second channel, otherprinting apparatuses may handle solely either the data processed throughthe first channel or the data processed through the second channel.Meanwhile, the information processing apparatus 2 may determine whichchannel between the first channel and the second channel is available asa processing channel for a printing apparatus, or whether both the firstchannel and the second channel are available as a processing channel forthe printing apparatus, based on information concerning the printingapparatus, which includes, for example, a model name, a model number, aversion number of firmware. The information processing apparatus 2 maytransmit the data to the printing apparatus 1 wirelessly through thenetwork interface 27 regardless of the processing channel to be used. Inother words, whether the processing channel to be used to process thedata to print the image is the first channel or the second channel, thecommunication method between the information processing apparatus 2 andthe printing apparatus 1 may be fixed.

The printing apparatus 1 in the printing system 100 according thepresent embodiment is feasible both to print an image based on therasterized data generated through the first channel and the rasterizeddata generated in the printing apparatus 1, and to rasterize thestandardized data received through the second channel and thereafterprint the image based on the rasterized data. In other words, theprinting system 100 is feasible to process the data to print the imagethrough both the first channel and the second channel.

The image-editor application 41 may, upon entry of a command to startprinting an image and before starting a process for printing the image,appoint one of the first channel and the second channel to be theprocessing channel. The image-editor application 41 may, for example,determine the processing channel based on an operation to theoperation/display interface 26 by a user and process data through thedetermined processing channel to command the printing apparatus 1 toprint the image. Flows in a procedure to appoint the processing channelwill be described later.

Next, in the following paragraphs, described will be flows of printingactions to be performed in the printing system 100 according to thepresent embodiment. A user who wishes to use the printing system 100 toprint an image based on a label image file may activate the image-editorapplication 41 in the information processing apparatus 2 and edit imagedata for the image to be printed.

As the image-editor application 41 starts, the information processingapparatus 2 displays an editor screen 51 as shown in, for example, FIG.4. The editor screen 51 may contain, for example, a print image 52, aprinter selecting field 53, a medium selecting field 54, and a printbutton 56. The print image 52 expresses an image of a printed outcome.The printer selecting field 53 may accept a user's selection for aprinting apparatus, including the printing apparatus 1, to print theimage. The medium selecting field 54 may accept a user's selection for aprinting medium. The print button 56 may accept entry of a printcommanding operation from the user to command the information processingapparatus 2 to prepare for image printing.

The image-editor application 41 displays, upon entry of the printcommand by the operation to the print button 56, a print setting screen61 as shown in FIG. 5. The print setting screen 61 is a single screen todisplay entire print setting options, which are feasible to at least oneof the first channel and the second channel. In particular, the printsetting screen 61 may as shown in FIG. 5, display applicable options forprint setting items, which include a number of copies 611, numbering612, cutting option 613, print quality 614, print start 615, halftone616, brightness/contrast 617, bidirectional communication 618, andhorizontal flip 619. The print setting screen 61 may further contain acancel button 62 and a print start button 63.

The cancel button 62 may be operated in order to cancel operations tothe print setting screen 61 and return to the editor screen 51 (see FIG.4). The print start button 63 may be operated in order to validate theprint setting options selected through the print setting screen 61 andcommand the information processing apparatus 2 and the printingapparatus 1 to start printing the image. In response to the operation tothe print start button 63 by the user, the information processingapparatus 2 may process the image data for the image to be printedthrough one of the first channel and the second channel, which isappointed as the processing channel at the moment, and output data tocommand the printing apparatus 1 to print the image to the printingapparatus 1.

From the options for the print setting items applicable through theprint setting screen 61 as shown in FIG. 5 and between the first channeland the second channel in the printing system 100, three patterns ofcombinations for the print setting items, applicable options, andfeasible processing channels may be available: (1) Print settings thatare feasible solely to the first channel, (2) Print setting that isfeasible solely to the second channel, and (3) Print settings that arefeasible to both the first channel and the second channel. The pattern(1), i.e., the print settings that are feasible solely to the firstchannel, may include the options “half-cut” and “special tape” for theprint setting item “cutting option” 613, the options other than adefault setting for the print setting item “print quality” 614, theoption other than a default setting for the print setting item “printstart” 615, the options other than a default setting for the printsetting item “halftone” 616, adjustments for the print setting items“brightness/contrast” 617, and setting for the print setting item“bidirectional communication 618.” The pattern (2), i.e., the printsetting feasible solely to the second channel may include setting forthe print setting item “horizontal flip.” The pattern (3), i.e., theprint settings feasible to both the first channel and the second channelmay include setting for the print setting item “number of copies” 611,the options “auto-cut” and “chain-printing” for the print setting item“cutting option” 613, the default setting for the print setting item“print quality” 614, the default setting for the print setting item“print start” 615, and the default setting for the print setting item“halftone” 616.

At the moment when the information processing apparatus displays theprint setting screen 61 (see FIG. 5), the processing channel is not yetappointed. The information processing apparatus 1 may accept the user'soperation through the print setting screen 61 and, based on theoperation, determine the processing channel to use.

The options and the print settings included in the pattern (1) citedabove are feasible solely to the first channel. In the followingparagraphs, an operation to validate one of the options or the printsettings in the pattern (1) may be referred to as a first operation. Thefirst operation includes an operation to alter a default setting for oneof the print setting items to one of the options included in the pattern(1) and an operation to validate one of the options for one of the printsetting items in the pattern (1).

The print setting included in the pattern (2) cited above is feasiblesolely to the second channel. In the following paragraphs, an operationto validate an option or a print setting included in the pattern (2) maybe referred to as a second operation. The options and the print settingsincluded in the pattern (3) cited above are feasible to both the firstchannel and the second channel.

The information processing apparatus 2 may determine the first channelto be the processing channel when the first operation to validate atleast one of the options or the print settings is entered through theprint setting screen 61. The information processing apparatus 2 maydetermine the second channel to be the processing channel when thesecond operation is entered through the print setting screen 61. Afterthe first channel or the second channel is appointed as the processingchannel, the information processing apparatus 2 may accept an operationto the print start button 63 and process image data for an image to beprinted through the appointed processing channel.

When neither the first operation nor the second operation is enteredthrough the print setting screen 61, the information processingapparatus 2 may accept any other operation through the print settingscreen 61. On the other hand, when one of the first operation and thesecond operation is entered through the print setting screen 61, entryof the other of the first operation and the second operation is limited.Limiting an operation may include, for example, not responding to theoperation at all, and responding the operation but cancelling theresponse later. In order to limit the operation by not responding to theoperation at all, for example, the information processing apparatus 2may not display the print setting item or the option that limits theuser's operation or may display the limiting setting item in thegray-out form.

For example, when the first operation is entered, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 may limit entry of the second operation. Foranother example, when the second operation is entered, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 may limit entry of the first operation. In otherwords, the information processing apparatus 2 may not accept entry ofthe first operation and the second operation at the same time.

The information processing apparatus 2 may accept entry of an operationto select an option for one of the print settings included in thepattern (3) rather than the first or second operation, and in such acase, the information processing apparatus 2 may neither newly appointnor alter the processing channel. There may be a case, where once theprocessing channel is appointed based on the first or second operationentered previously, thereafter, an operation to select an option for theprint setting items included in the pattern (3) may be entered. In sucha case, the previously entered first or second operation, along with theappointment of the processing channel, may be canceled.

Next, in the following paragraphs, with reference to FIG. 6, describedbelow will be flows of steps in an edit-print setting process to beconducted by the information processing apparatus 2 in order toimplement the printing actions in the printing system 100 describedearlier. The edit-print setting process may be conducted by the CPU 21in the information processing apparatus 2 in response to activation ofthe image-editor application 41. The edit-print setting process may beconducted as a part of actions by the CPU 21 in accordance with theimage-editor application 41.

As the edit-print setting process starts, in S101, the CPU 21 controlsthe operation/display interface 26 to display the editor screen 51 asshown in FIG. 4. In S101, if image data to be edited is designated, theCPU 21 may display the print image 51 based on the designated imagedata. In the printer selecting field 53 and the medium selecting field54, the CPU 21 may display, for example, a default printer and a defaultmedium, respectively.

The CPU 21 may accept entry of operations to the buttons in the editorscreen 51. In S102, the CPU 21 determines whether an operation to theprint button 56 is entered. If the CPU 21 determines that no operationto the print button 56 is entered (S102: NO), in S103, the CPU 21determines whether a command to end the image-editor application 41 isentered. If the CPU 21 determines that no command to end theimage-editor application 41 is entered (S103: NO), the CPU 21 returns toS102 and accepts entry of other operations until either an operation tothe print button 56 or a command to end the image-editor application 41is entered. The other operations may include, for example, an operationto edit or refresh print image 52.

In S102, when the CPU 21 determines that an operation to the printbutton 56 is entered (S102: YES), in S105, the CPU 21 obtains applicableprint setting items. The applicable print setting items may, forexample, depend on the model of the printing apparatus 1 and may bestored by the image-editor application 41. For another example, theinformation processing apparatus 2 may obtain the applicable settingitems through communication with the printing apparatus 1. For example,the information processing apparatus 2 may obtain the applicable settingitems and the options therefor from the printing apparatus 1 when theinformation processing apparatus 1 is connected with the printingapparatus 1 for the first time and store the information in thenon-volatile memory 24. For another example, the print settings feasibleto the second channel may be obtained from the OS 44 within theinformation processing apparatus 2.

In S106, the CPU 21 controls the operation/display interface 26 todisplay the print setting screen 61. For example, the print settingscreen 61 containing all of the obtained setting items, as shown in FIG.5, may be displayed. The print setting screen 61 is a single screen, inwhich the options that are feasible to both the first channel and thesecond channel arc initially selected as default settings. Thus, whileall of the applicable setting items are displayed in a single screen,the user may view the applicable setting items and the options thereforat a glance, more easily compared to the applicable setting items thatmay be displayed in separate screens.

In S107, the CPU 21 appoints a default channel to be the processingchannel. For example, the default channel may be the second channel.Through the second channel, the process may be simplified, and a volumeof the image data to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 may bedownsized. Meanwhile, the default channel may be the first channel. Foranother example, a processing channel that was used in a previousimaging process in the image-editor application 41 may be stored, andthe previously used processing channel may be appointed as the defaultchannel for the current imaging process.

In S111, the CPU 21 determines whether an operation to the print startbutton 63 is entered through the print setting screen 61. If the CPU 21determines that an operation to the print start button 63 is entered(S111: YES), in S112, the CPU 21 processes the image data through theprocessing channel appointed at the moment when the operation to theprint start button 63 is entered and outputs data for controlling theprinting apparatus 1 to print the image to the printing apparatus 1.

In S111, if the CPU 21 determines that no operation to the print startbutton 63 is entered (S111: NO), in S113, the CPU 21 determines whetheran operation to the cancel button 62 is entered. If the CPU 21determines that an operation to the cancel button 62 is entered (S113:YES), or following S112, in S114, the CPU 21 closes the print settingscreen 61 and returns to S102.

In S113, on the other hand, if no operation to the cancel button 63 isentered (S113: NO), in S116, the CPU 21 determines whether an operationto one of the options for one of the print setting items in the printsetting screen 61 is entered. If the CPU 21 determines that an operationis entered (S116: YES), in S117, the CPU 21 conducts a settingalteration process.

Flows of steps in the setting alteration process will be described belowwith reference to a flowchart in FIG. 7. The setting alteration processmay be conducted as a part of actions by the CPU 21 in accordance withthe image-editor application 41. In S201, the CPU 21 displays the printsetting screen 61, which reflects the option of the print settingdetermined to be entered in S116.

In S202, the CPU 21 determines whether the operation determined to beentered in S116 is the first operation. If the CPU 21 determines thatthe operation is the first operation (S202: YES), in S203, the CPU 21determines the first channel to be the processing channel In S204, theCPU 21 controls the operation/display interface 26 to display a firstchannel setting screen 71, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, in place ofthe print setting screen 61. Thereafter, the CPU 21 exits the settingalteration process and returns to the edit-print setting process in FIG.6.

The first channel setting screen 71 is a screen, through which the printsettings items that are feasible to the second channel alone aredisplayed in an inoperable form. The information processing apparatus 2may display the print setting items that are feasible to the secondchannel alone, e.g., the horizontal flip 619, in, for example, thegray-out format as shown in FIG. 8 so that an operation to the printsetting item “horizontal flip” 619 may be refused. For another example,the print setting item that is feasible to the second channel alone maynot be displayed at all. While the first channel is determined to be theprocessing channel based on the entry of the first operation, the printsetting item that is feasible to the second channel alone is preventedfrom being altered by the user. Meanwhile, the print setting items thatare feasible to the first channel alone and the print setting items thatare feasible to both the first and second channels are displayed toaccept the user's operations.

In S202, on the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that the operationdetermined to be entered in S116 is not the first operation (S202: NO),in S206, the CPU 21 determines whether the operation determined to beentered in S116 is the second operation. If the CPU 21 determines thatthe operation is the second operation (S206: YES), in other words, ifthe first operation is absent in S207, the CPU 21 determines the secondchannel to be the processing channel. Thus, in the flow from S201 toS206, if the first operation is absent, but the entered operation isdetermined to be the second operation, the CPU 21 appoints the secondchannel as the processing channel.

In S208, the CPU 21 controls the operation/display interface 26 todisplay a second channel setting screen 72, for example, as shown inFIG. 9, in place of the print setting screen 61. Thereafter, the CPU 21exits the setting alteration process.

The second channel setting screen 72 is a screen, which the printsetting items that are feasible to the first channel alone are displayedin an inoperable form. The information processing apparatus 2 maydisplay the print setting items that are feasible to the first channelalone in, for example, the gray-out format as shown in FIG. 8 so thatoperations to the print setting items feasible to the first channelalone may be refused. Meanwhile, the print setting items that arefeasible to the second channel alone and the print setting items thatare feasible to both the first and second channels are displayed in theoperable form to accept the user's operations.

In S206, on the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that the operationdetermined to be entered in S116 is not the second operation (S206: NO),in S211, the CPU 21 determines whether the operation determined to beentered in S116 is an operation to cancel the first operation or thesecond operation entered earlier. If the CPU 21 determines that theoperation is a cancelling operation (S211: YES), in S212, the CPU 21determines the default channel to be the processing channel. Thecanceling operation to cancel the first operation or the secondoperation may be, for example, an operation to restore a setting, whichhas been entered earlier and is feasible to the first channel or thesecond channel alone, to a default setting. The default channel is thesame channel as the processing channel determined in S107 in theedit-print setting process (see FIG. 6).

In S213, the CPU 21 closes the screen having been displayed, i.e.,either the first channel setting screen 71 or the second channel settingscreen 72, and displays the print setting screen 61. Thereafter, the CPU21 exits the setting alteration process. In other words, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 is enabled to accept the user's operations to anyof the print setting items once again similarly to the state where theCPU 21 initially displayed the print setting screen 61 in S106.

In S211, on the other hand, if the CPU 21 determines that the operationis not a cancelling operation (S211: NO), the CPU 21 exits the settingalteration process. For example, when an operation to an option that isfeasible to both the first channel and the second channel is entered,the CPU 21 may not alter the processing channel or the display screen.In S211, the CPU 21 may determine that the operation is a cancelingoperation when the first operation and/or the second operation havingbeen entered since the beginning of the setting alteration process areall canceled. On the other hand, the CPU 21 may determine that theoperation is not a cancelling operation if some of a plurality of firstand/or second operations having been entered remain unchanged.

The flow returns to the edit-print setting operation shown in FIG. 6.Following the setting alteration process in S117, or following thenegative determination in S116 (S116: NO), the CPU 21 returns to S111and waits until one of an operation to the print start button 63 (S111:YES), an operation to the cancel button 62 (S113: YES), and an operationto one of the options for one of the print setting items in the printsetting screen 61 (S116: YES) is entered.

Meanwhile, in S103, if the CPU 21 determines that command to end theimage-editor application 41 is entered (S103: YES), the CPU 21 ends theimage-editor application 41.

Thus, according to the printing system 100 in the first embodiment, theprint setting screen 61 may be displayed, and when the first operationis entered through the print setting screen 61, the first channel may beappointed as the processing channel. The print setting screen 61 is acommon screen for the first channel and the second channel and maydisplay the options that are all feasible to the printing apparatus 1.Therefore, the user may select options among all of the applicableoptions. While the user is not required to designate the processingchannel, the information processing apparatus 2 may appoint theprocessing channel based on the user's selected options. For example,when the first operation is entered by the user, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 may automatically determine the first channel tobe the processing channel. Therefore, the processing channel may beappointed without requiring the user to select between the first channeland the second channel so that choosing the options for the printsettings may be less confusing to the user.

Next, in the following paragraphs, with reference to FIGS. 10-11,described below will be a second embodiment of the printing systemaccording to the present disclosure. In the following description,items, structures, steps in the flowcharts which are substantially thesame as or similar to those described in the first embodiment may bedenoted by the same reference signs, and description of those may beomitted.

The information processing apparatus 2 in the second embodiment mayconduct the edit-print setting process and the setting alterationprocess similarly to those described in the first embodiment. In thesecond embodiment, however, contents of the screens to be displayed maydiffer from those displayed in the first embodiment. In particular, theinformation processing apparatus 2 in the second embodiment may displaya print setting screen 81 as shown in FIG. 10 in place of the printsetting screen 61 in S106.

The print setting screen 81 as shown in FIG. 10 contains the option inthe pattern (2) for the print setting that is feasible solely to thesecond channel and the options in the pattern (3) for the print settingsare feasible to both the first channel and the second channel.Meanwhile, the print setting screen 81 does not contain the options inthe pattern (1) for the print settings that are feasible solely to thefirst channel. In particular, the print setting screen 81 contains theprint setting items “number of copies” 611, “numbering” 612, and“cutting option” 620, which belong to the pattern (3), and the printsetting item “horizontal flip” 619, which belong to the pattern (2).

The print setting items “number of copies” 611, “numbering” 612, and“horizontal flip” 619 may contain the same options as those to bedisplayed in the print setting screen 61 (see FIG. 5) in the firstembodiment. Meanwhile, the cutting option 620 contains the options“auto-cut” and “chain-printing,” which are feasible to both the firstchannel and the second channel among the options in the cutting option613 in the first embodiment. The print setting screen 81 furtherincludes the cancel button 62 and the print start button 63, which aresimilar to those to be displayed in the print setting screen 61 in thefirst embodiment. Moreover, the print setting screen 81 includes anadvanced setting button 64.

The print setting screen 81 does not contain the print setting item thatis feasible to the first channel alone. Meanwhile, when an operation tothe advanced setting button 64 is entered, the information processingapparatus 2 determines that the first operation is entered. In otherwords, an operation to the advanced setting button 64 is equated withthe first operation. Therefore, when the operation to the advancedsetting button 64 is entered through the print setting screen 81, theCPU 21 may make an affirmative determination in S116 (S116: YES) in theedit-print setting process and start the setting alteration process.Further, the CPU 21 may make an affirmative determination in S202 (S202:YES) in the edit-print setting process. Thereafter, in S204, the CPU 21may display a first channel setting screen 91 as shown in FIG. 11 inplace of the first channel setting screen 71 (see FIG. 8).

The first channel setting screen 91 is a screen, containing the printsetting items and the options therefor, which are feasible to the firstchannel alone, in the pattern (1). In particular, the first channelsetting screen 91 may contain the print setting items “print quality”614, “print start” 615, “halftone” 616, “brightness/contrast” 617,“bidirectional communication” 618, “cutting option” 621, and the optionstherefor. The print setting items “print quality” 614, “print start”615, “halftone” 616, “brightness/contrast” 617, and “bidirectionalcommunication” 618 may be similar to those to be displayed in the printsetting screen 61 in the first embodiment. The print setting item“cutting option” 621 may contain the options “half-cut” and “specialtape,” which are feasible to the first channel alone, among the optionscontained in the cutting option 613 displayed in the print settingscreen 61 in the first embodiment. The first channel setting screen 91further contains the OK button 65.

An operation entered through the first channel setting screen 91 is thefirst operation alone. When the first channel setting screen 91 is beingdisplayed, it is more likely that the first operation is entered.Therefore, in the second embodiment, at the moment when the firstchannel setting screen 91 is displayed, the first channel is determinedto be the processing channel.

Meanwhile, the CPU 21 determines that the first operation is canceledwhen no operation is entered through the first channel setting screen 91or when the options selected by the operations entered through the firstchannel setting screen 91 are all restored to the original options.Therefore, in S211 in the setting alteration process, the CPU 21 makesan affirmative determination (S211: YES). Thereafter, the CPU 21determines the default channel to be the processing channel and closethe first channel setting screen 91. The CPU 21 thereafter restores theprint setting screen 81 and may accept entry of an operation to theprint setting screen 81.

In the second embodiment, an operation to select the option “horizontalflip” 619 through the print setting screen 81 is considered to be thesecond operation. In other words, when an operation to select the option“horizontal flip” 619 is entered through the print setting screen 81,the CPU 21 makes an affirmative determination in S116 (S116: YES) in theedit-print setting process and starts the setting alteration process. InS206 in the setting alteration process, the CPU 21 makes an affirmativedetermination (S206: YES). Thereafter, in S208, the CPU 21 displays thesecond channel setting screen 92 in place of the second channel settingscreen 72 displayed in the first embodiment.

The second channel setting screen 92 is a screen, which may be generallysimilar to the print setting screen 81 but does not contain the advancedsetting button 64. While the advanced setting button 64 is notdisplayed, the information processing apparatus 2 may prevent the firstoperation from being entered through the second channel setting screen92. If an operation to the setting “horizontal flip” 619 is entered onceagain, in other words, the setting for “horizontal flip” 619 is removed,the CPU 21 may determine that the second operation is canceled.Therefore, in S211 in the setting alteration process, the CPU 21 makesan affirmative determination (S211: YES) and restores the print settingscreen 81 to accept entry of an operation to the print setting screen81.

The information processing apparatus 2 accepting entry of an operationto the print button 56 through the editor screen 51 displays the printsetting screen 81, in which a number of the print setting items issmaller than the number of the print setting items being displayed inthe print setting screen 61 in the first embodiment. Through the printsetting screen 81, the information processing apparatus 2 may acceptentry of an operation, i.e., the first operation, to the advancedsetting button 64, and in response to the first operation, theinformation processing apparatus 2 may display the first channel settingscreen 91, in which the number of the print setting items is larger thanthe print setting screen 81. Thus, while the applicable setting itemsare displayed in separate screens, a number of the print setting itemsto be displayed in each screen may be reduced, and appearance of eachscreen may be simplified to be looked through by the user more easily.When an operation to the advanced setting button 64 is entered, it maybe likely that an option for the print setting item is entered throughthe first channel setting screen 91. In this regard, the informationprocessing apparatus 2 may appoint the first channel as the processingchannel.

In the second embodiment, the print setting screen 81 contains the printsetting item in the pattern (2) that is feasible to the second channelalone, while the print setting items in the pattern (1) that arefeasible to the first channel alone are not contained. However, thisarrangement may be inverted. In other words, the print setting screen 81may contain the print setting items in the pattern (1) that are feasibleto the first channel alone, while the print setting item in the pattern(2) may be excluded from the print setting screen 81. In thisarrangement, an operation to the advanced setting button 64 wouldcorrespond to the second operation. The first channel setting screen 91is equal to the print setting screen 81 without the advanced settingbutton 64, and the second channel setting screen 92 is a screen thatcontains the print setting item in the pattern (2) but does not containthe print setting items in the pattern (1). For another example, theprint setting screen 81 may contain the print setting item(s) in one ofthe pattern (1) and the pattern (2), of which number of the printsetting item(s) is smaller, along with the print setting items in thepattern (3).

Thus, according to the printing system 100 in the second embodiment, theprint setting screen 81 may be displayed, and when an operation to theadvanced setting button 64 is entered through the print setting screen81, the first channel setting screen 91 may be displayed, and the firstchannel may be determined to be the processing channel. Thereby, inresponse to entry of the first operation, the information processingapparatus 2 may automatically appoint the first channel as theprocessing channel. Therefore, the processing channel may be appointedwithout requiring the user to select between the first channel and thesecond channel so that entering the options for the print settings maybe less confusing to the user.

Although examples of carrying out the invention has been described,those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerousvariations and permutations of the program to be run in the informationprocessing apparatus that fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims. It is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or act described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

For example, the printing apparatus 1 may not necessarily be equippedwith the operation panel 13. For another example, the memory medium inthe information processing apparatus 2 may not necessarily be limited tothe non-volatile memory 24 but may be any type of mass storage memorydevice.

For another example, the communication method between the printingapparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 2 may notnecessarily be limited to the wireless communication in compliance withthe Wi-Fi standard but may be, for example, wired communication througha LAN cable, a USB cable, or wireless communication in complianceBluetooth (registered trademark). Further, the printing apparatus 1 andthe information processing apparatus 2 may be adapted to a plurality ofcommunication methods.

For another example, the image file for the image to be printed may notnecessarily be limited to the label image file for printing a label on atape. For example, the image file may be a compressed file including aPDF file, a JPEG file, etc., or may be a bitmap file. When the imagefile other than the label image file is used, an application program anda print-controlling program that may handle the image data equivalentlyto the image-editor application 41 and the specialized print-controllingprogram 43 may be adopted.

For another example, the second channel may not necessarily requirerasterization in the printing apparatus 1; in other words, rasterizationmay be conducted in the information processing apparatus 2, as long asthe second channel provides a processing channel different from thefirst channel. For example, if the basic print-controlling program 45has the rasterizing function, the basic print-controlling program 45 mayrasterize the image data by its own rasterizing function. In thisconfiguration, the first channel and the second channel still differ inalgorisms for the rasterization. In this configuration, further, whilethe first channel is a channel, which does not use the print-controllingfunction provided by the OS 44, and the second channel is a channel,which uses the print-controlling function provided by the OS 44.

For another example, the processing channels in the printing system 100may not necessarily be limited to the first channel and the secondchannel, but the printing system 100 may have three or more channels.For example, the printing system 100 may have a channel, in which animage may be printed by a driver specialized to the device, and, achannel, in which an image may be printed by CUPS being a printer driverfor UNIX (registered trademark), macOS (registered trademark), and Linux(registered trademark). The device-specific driver and CUPS are programsembedded in the OS 44 (see FIG. 2) in the information processingapparatus 2 to rasterize image data. With these additional processingchannels, if errors occur in both the first channel and the secondchannel, the image printing may be retried through these additionalprocessing channels.

For another example, the print setting items and the options therefor tobe displayed in the setting screens may not necessarily be limited tothose described above or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but asmaller or larger number of the print setting items and/or options maybe displayed. The setting screen may at least contain a field to acceptentry of the first operation. For another example, no setting item oroption that is feasible to the second channel alone and infeasible tothe first channel may necessarily be provided. If no setting item oroption that is feasible to the second channel alone and infeasible tothe first channel is provided, the second channel setting screen 72, 92may be omitted.

For another example, when an operation to the print start button 63 isentered while no processing channel is yet determined, the defaultchannel may not necessarily be automatically appointed as the processingchannel, but the information processing apparatus 2 may query the userabout his/her preference for the processing channel and appoint theprocessing channel based on the user's responsive operation.

For another example, when one of the first and second channels isappointed as the processing channel, the print setting items and theoptions therefor that are feasible to the other channel alone may notnecessarily be displayed in the gray-out form. For example, one of thechannels appointed by a setting selected later may be displayed as thevalid processing channel, and appointment of the other of the channelsappointed by a setting selected earlier may be cancelled or deleted fromthe screen. For another example, the information processing apparatus 2may query the user about his/her preference for the processing channel.Meanwhile, if the print setting items and the options therefor that arefeasible to the other channel alone are displayed in the gray-outformat, the user may recognize existence of other options that areapplicable to the image printing more clearly and may select the printsetting items and the options more effectively.

For another example, the printing system 100 may not necessarily befeasible to both the first channel and the second channel but may befeasible to one of the first channel and the second channel alone. Forexample, the printing system 100 may include a first printer, which isfeasible to the first channel but is infeasible to the second channel, asecond printer, which is infeasible to the first channel hut is feasibleto the second channel, and a third printer, which is feasible to boththe first channel and the second channel. In this configuration, theinformation processing apparatus 2 may display the same print settingscreen 61 or 81 regardless of the channel(s) feasible to the designatedprinting apparatus 1. Thereby, the information processing apparatus 2may accept entries of the print settings provided by the image-editorapplication 41 without causing the user to be aware of the processingchannel. Alternately, a setting screen, which does not contain the printsetting items or the options that are infeasible to the channel in thedesignated printing apparatus 1, may be displayed.

For another example, the image-editor application 41 may not necessarilybe equipped with the function to edit images. An image may be edited bya basic application program, while the image-editor application 41 maybe equipped with a function to print an image in a file created by thebasic application program.

For another example, the steps or the processes in the printing processdescribed above may be accomplished by a single CPU, a plurality ofCPUs, a hardware device such as an ASIC, or a combination of any ofthese. For another example, the steps or the processes in theabove-described embodiment may be accomplished by various media ormethods, including a recording medium storing the programs to implementthe steps or the processes.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumstoring computer readable instructions that are executable by a computerin an information processing apparatus, the information processingapparatus comprising a display interface, an operation interface, and acommunication interface through which the information processingapparatus is connected with a printer, the information processingapparatus comprising a first channel and a second channel eachconfigured to cause the printer to print an image through thecommunication interface based on image data, the computer readableinstructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to:control the display interface to display a setting screen, the setscreen being configured to accept entry of print settings applicable tothe printer, the print settings including a first special setting, thefirst special setting being feasible to the first channel but infeasibleto the second channel; and in response to a specific operation to thesetting screen through the operation interface, the specific operationbeing an operation related to the first special setting, determine thefirst channel to be a processing channel to be used to cause the printerto print the image.
 2. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen is a singlescreen, in which all of the print settings that are feasible to at leastone of the first channel and the second channel are displayed.
 3. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1,wherein the setting screen includes a first screen and a second screen,the second screen being configured to be displayed in response to anoperation to the first screen, wherein the first screen contains a printsetting feasible to both the first channel and the second channel butdoes not contain the first special setting among the print settingsapplicable to the printer, and wherein the second screen contains thefirst special setting among the print settings applicable to theprinter.
 4. The non-transitory computer readable storage mediumaccording to claim 3, wherein the specific operation includes theoperation to the first screen to cause the display interface to displaythe second screen.
 5. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium according to claim 1, wherein the specific operation includes anoperation to enter the first special setting through the setting screen.6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according toclaim 1, wherein the print settings applicable to the printer includes asecond special setting, the second special setting being feasible to thesecond channel but infeasible to the first channel, wherein, based onentry of the first special setting, the computer readable instructionscause the computer to limit entry of the second special setting throughthe setting screen.
 7. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium according to claim 1, wherein, in response to a print commandingoperation to the operation interface, the computer readable instructionscause the computer to control the display interface to display thesetting screen.
 8. The non-transitory computer readable storage mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein one of the first channel and the secondchannel is a channel to process the image data for the image to beprinted by the printer through a first rasterization process, andwherein the other of the first channel and the second channel is achannel to process the image data for the image to be printed by theprinter through a second rasterization process, the second rasterizationprocess being different from the first rasterization process.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 1,wherein one of the first channel and the second channel is a channel,through which the computer readable instructions cause the informationprocessing apparatus to rasterize the image data, and wherein the otherof the first channel and the second channel is a channel, through whichthe computer readable instructions cause the printer to rasterize theimage data.
 10. The non-transitory computer readable storage mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein an operating system in the informationprocessing apparatus includes a print controlling function, wherein oneof the first channel and the second channel is a channel to cause theprinter to print the image without using the print controlling function,and wherein the other of the first channel and the second channel is aprinter to print the image by use of the print controlling function. 11.The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim1, wherein, based on absence of the specific operation to the settingscreen, the computer readable instructions cause the computer todetermine the second channel to be the processing channel prior tocommanding the printer to print the image.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein, inresponse to entry of a command to the computer to start printing theimage through the operation interface, the computer readableinstructions cause the computer to output data for commanding theprinter to print the image to the printer, the data being processedthrough one of the first channel and the second channel determined to bethe processing channel.
 13. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium according to claim 1, wherein the printer includes: a first-typedprinter being feasible to print the image based on first data forcommanding the printer to print the image, the first data beingprocessed through the first channel, the first-typed printer beinginfeasible to print the image based on second data for commanding theprinter to print the image, the second data being processed through thesecond channel; a second-typed printer being infeasible to print theimage based on the first data, the second-typed printer being feasibleto print the image based on the second data; and a third-typed printerbeing feasible to print the image based on the first data and on thesecond data, and wherein the computer readable instructions cause thecomputer to display the same setting screen to accept entry of the printsettings applicable to the printer regardless of a type of the printerbeing connected with the information processing apparatus among thefirst-typed printer, the second-typed printer, and the third-typedprinter.
 14. A printing system comprising an information processingapparatus and a printer, the information processing apparatus and theprinter being configured to communicate with each other in conformitywith a predetermined communication protocol, the printing systemcomprising channels configured to cause the printer to print an imagebased on image data, the channels including: a first channel configuredto cause the information processing apparatus to conduct a firstrasterization process to generate first rasterized data, and cause theprinter to receive the first rasterized data and print an image based onthe first rasterized data; and a second channel configured to cause theprinter to conduct a second rasterization process to generate secondrasterized data and print the image based on the second rasterized data,wherein the information processing apparatus is configured to: display asetting screen, the setting screen being configured to accept entry ofprint settings applicable to the printer, the print settings including afirst special setting, the first special setting being feasible to thefirst channel but infeasible to the second channel; and in response to aspecific operation to the setting screen, the specific operation beingan operation related to the first special setting, determine the firstchannel to be a processing channel to be used to cause the printer toprint the image.